Democrats, Play Hardball on a Supreme Court Nominee

Jan. 26, 2017

To the Editor:

Re “Court Selection Expected Soon (So Is a Brawl)” (front page, Jan. 25): Here is where the Democrats fail to protect their constituency, with a pattern of being too reasonable, not willing to act as brutally as the Republicans, this time at the expense of the majority of Americans who reject President Trump’s positions.

President Obama had every right early in his final year of the presidency to put forth a Supreme Court nominee, picking a mainstream, centrist candidate to whom the Republicans would not even grant a hearing. Yet Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, is already giving up what shred of power the Democrats have by announcing that they will filibuster only nominees out of the legal mainstream, implying that Democrats will confirm a more mainstream Republican nominee.

Safeguarding established rights and protections that a majority of Americans value is not playing tit for tat with nominations. It’s not petty. It’s a crucial fight for which elected Democrats must be unwavering in protecting women’s health rights, civil liberties and social justice safeguards. Fight for that seat to remain open. This is not a time to be reasonable.